Begonia plant named ‘BKPEEVHP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BKPBEEVHP’, characterized by its broadly upright and mounded plant habit; sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; and double-type flowers that are purplish red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia x hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKPBEEVHP’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Beekenkamp Plants B.V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Sep. 25, 2020, application number 2020/2346. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia x hiemalis, commercially referred to as Elatior Begonia and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKPBEEVHP’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new compact, freely branching and freely flowering Begonia plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in January, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Begonia x tuberhybrida identified as code number 09-0008-06, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed proprietary selection of Begonia socotrana, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in July, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since August, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKPBEEVHP’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKPBEEVHP’ as a new and distinct Begonia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy plants with freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Double-type flowers that are purplish red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have purplish red-colored flowers         whereas plants of the female parent selection have salmon         pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have double-type flowers whereas         plants of the male parent selection have single-type flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘BKPBEEVR’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,216. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘BKPBEEVR’ in flower color as plants of the new Begonia have purplish red-colored flowers whereas plants of ‘BKPBEEVR’ have dark red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of Begonia x hiemalis ‘BKPBEEGL’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,825. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of ‘BKPBEEGL’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of ‘BKPBEEGL’.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have purplish red-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘BKPBEEGL’ have soft pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKPBEEVHP’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) are close-up views of a typical flower bud and the upper and lower surfaces of typical developed flowers and leaves of ‘BKPBEEVHP’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown during the autumn in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 19° to 21° C. Plants were eleven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia x hiemalis ‘BKPBEEVHP’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Begonia x             tuberhybrida identified as code number 09-0008-06, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Begonia socotrana, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at temperatures about             25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 35 to 36 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 23° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots; plants             of the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching habit; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounded plant             habit; overall plant shape, obovate; moderately vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 18.6             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 20.6             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 27.9 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit with about two basal branches per plant each             with about two secondary branches; pinching is not required.             Length: About 10.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to 8 mm.             Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength: Moderately strong.             Aspect: Erect to about 40° from vertical. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 152B. Color, fully developed: Close to             146A; at the nodes, close to 146A moderately tinged with             close to 181A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 13.5 cm. Width: About 11.3 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate.             Apex: Acute to bluntly acute. Base: Oblique, lobes             moderately imbricate. Margin: Crenate to serrate; strongly             undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; moderately glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Mostly smooth and glabrous with sparse             pubescence along the veins; velvety; slightly glossy.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: More intense than close to between 143A and 146A;             margins, strongly tinged with close to 181A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 148A; margins, strongly             tinged with close to 181A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to between NN137A and 139A; venation, close             to 144A to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 191A tinged with close to 183D; venation, close to 146C.             Petioles: Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Strength: Flexible. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A; at distal end,             strongly tinged with close to 183B. Stipules: Quantity per             leaf: Two at the base of the leaf. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse to             broadly acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margins: Ciliate.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Rotate double-type sterile male flowers             arranged in axillary compound cymes; freely flowering habit             with about eight flowers per cyme and about 200 flowers             developing per plant during the flowering season; flowers             face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             flower freely and continuously from spring into the autumn             in The Netherlands; during the winter in a greenhouse,             plants begin flowering about 37 days after exposure to             photoinductive treatments.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Individual flowers last about ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain             good substance for about 20 to 30 days in an interior             environment.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 12.8 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9.9 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter, flattened:             About 0.6 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate to nearly             circular; flattened. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; matte. Color: Close to 47A; towards the base, close             to N174C to N174D.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 4.9 cm. Depth: About 2.4 cm.             Tepals: Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower, opposite.             Length: About 2.8 cm. Width: About 3.4 cm. Shape: Reniform.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire to irregularly             shallowly dentate; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety;             slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 54A to 54B; towards the margins, close to 53D and towards             the base, close to 51D. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 50C; towards the base, close to 178B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 53C; towards the base, close to 51C;             venation, faint, close to 182B; color does not fade with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between             181B and 182A; towards the base, tinged with close to 145B             and 152B; venation, close to 152B; color does not fade with             development. Tepaloids: Quantity and arrangement: About 26             arranged in about five whorls interior to the tepals.             Length: About 1.8 cm, varying between 0.8 cm and 2.4 cm.             Width: About 2 cm, varying between 0.8 cm and 3.1 cm. Shape:             Reniform to obovate. Apex: Obtuse to rounded. Base: Truncate             to cuneate. Margin: Entire to irregularly crenate; not             undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous, velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 61C to 61D;             towards the margins, close to 58C. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 61C to 61D; towards the margins,             close to 58C; venation, close to 183D; color does not fade             with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.6 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to             4.5 mm. Angle: About 40° from lateral branch axis. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy. Color: Close to between 146A             and 152A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: About 35° from the peduncle axis. Strength:             Moderately strong; flexible. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 176A and             N199C.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Two per flower,             opposite. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape:             Reniform. Apex: Obtuse to broadly praemorse. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Ciliate. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; very slightly glossy.             Color, upper surface: Close to 144A to 144B; towards the             margins, close to 180A. Color, lower surface: Close to 181A;             towards the base, close to 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed, all structures             transformed into tepaloids.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Begonia as flowers are             sterile. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common     to Begonia plants has not been observed on plants of the new     Begonia. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BKPBEEVHP’ as illustrated and described. 